Reviews

Tussen ons by Sarah Crossan

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rackle's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

katykelly's review against another edition

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5.0

Dark, emotional drama in verse.

Crossan always hits a nerve, though before this it's always been solid Young Adult fare, issues and characters. Her knack of writing in verse seems to suit her subject matter and the difference to usual styles is soon forgotten as you become embroiled in her stories.

This latest book moves in a different direction, for a different audience, and shows Crossan's ability to cross genres with aplomb.

A story about infidelity, grief and choices. Connor and Ana were conducting a passionate affair, a meeting of minds, for three years, until his sudden death. With the secret of the affair still shielded, her lover's widow is now a client of solicitor Ana, and the jealousies and curiosities of the past three years remain close to the surface as Ana shows us the pain of loss and love that isn't allowed to be openly acknowledged. We see scenes of the couple as well as Ana's bland home life with husband and family.

It feels as though you're inside this affair, though Ana is never someone you can fully warm to. I found some of the most affecting moments those between her and her family, with the innocence of childhood rhymes giving a new spin on the titular rhyme (one I didn't know).

With various layers to unwrap, Ana's story made me feel as though I was going through a wringer, the upset and tension, the darkness and despair, hate and anger, so vividly conveyed in a sparse verse format.

I finished this emotionally drained. Needing sunshine and chocolate. Very engrossing, intoxicating story and protagonist.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.

hex_girl_13's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

sdraws's review against another edition

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1.0

God, this book really is the most asinine and boring part of straight literature. It’s the same tiresome song and dance - a woman cheats on her husband with a married man and is devastated when he won’t leave his wife for her. Why would she expect loyalty from a cheating man? Why do side pieces think so highly of themselves?
The book doesn’t delve into anything interesting and instead focuses on how bummed she is in the form of the worst “poetry” I’ve ever read. By comparison, Rupi Kaur seem like William Wordsworth or Lord Byron. I’m very much glad I didn’t buy this book.

carolyn0613's review against another edition

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4.0

I like Sarah Crossan's unusual style of writing and was pulled into this tale that slowly revealed the layers of complexity. Our narrator has just learned of the death of her married lover and we enter her world of grief and the madness that come with it. Very interesting story.

rainbowbookworm's review against another edition

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3.0

I enjoy reading novels in verse, but I did not understand why this was the format the author used to tell this story of a woman's grief over her dead lover.

Ana Kelly should have been a competent, professional woman, but she enters into an affair with a married man. It is clear to the reader that their relationship in toxic, but despite repeated attempts to break things off, they continued to meet up. When he dies unexpectedly, Ana must deal with the fact that only one person knows she is grieving his death.

So what does Ana decide to do? Get close to his widow! The novel is told in dual timelines where we see how the affair started and progressed and how Ana is doing now.